Drumkeeran

History

Throughout at least the 19th and 20th centuries, a number of annual fairs were held at Drumkeeran on varying dates. In 1925, Drumkeerin village comprised 54 houses, 11 being licensed to sell alcohol.

As with much of the rest of Ireland, the area was historically covered in woodland, as reflected in a 19th-century survey of Leitrim which stated that "A hundred years ago almost the whole country was one continued, undivided forest, so that from Drumshanbo to Drumkeeran, a distance of nine or ten miles, one could travel the whole way from tree to tree by branches". These forests in County Leitrim, on the west side of Lough Allen, were denuded for the making for charcoal for iron works around Slieve Anierin. Large piles of cleared timber existed in this area in 1782.

Community organisations

The Drumkeerin Development Association was formed around 1970. In 1986, Drumkeerin Community Council was established to address the economic development of the village. In 1992, the Drumkeerin Tourist and Development Company was incorporated in order to effect some of the council's plans.

Drumkeerin GAA club was founded in 1933 and represents the parish area of Inishmagrath.

Transport

Bus Éireann route 462 serves the village on Fridays providing links to Sligo and Manorhamilton. Route 469 serves the village on Saturdays providing a link to Drumshanbo, Carrick on Shannon and Longford.

Churches

Churches in the area include St Brigid's Roman Catholic church (built 1869), St Joseph's Church of Ireland church (1833), and St Patricia's Presbyterian church (1844).

Notable people

• John McKenna (1880–1947), flautist from the area
• Mary McPartlan (1955–2020), traditional Irish singer
• Vincent Woods (born 1960), poet and playwright from Tarmon near Drumkeerin

References

Notes

Sources

• {{cite book |access-date=2 October 2020 |archive-date=15 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715192812/https://books.google.com/books?id=R0DnDPUvoAYC&pg=PA405 |url-status=live
• {{cite book |access-date=4 March 2017 |archive-date=24 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224133952/https://books.google.com/books?id=KpY9AAAAcAAJ |url-status=live
• {{cite journal
• {{cite journal |access-date=4 March 2017 |archive-date=28 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228175706/https://books.google.com/books?id=koE7AQAAIAAJ&pg=PA16 |url-status=live
• {{cite book |access-date=4 March 2017 |archive-date=5 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305153042/https://books.google.com/books?id=z2woAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA37 |url-status=live
• {{cite report |access-date=21 May 2017 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215070011/https://dspace.gipe.ac.in/xmlui/handle/10973/25609 |url-status=live

References

1. "Settlements Drumkeeran". Central Statistics Office.
2. "Droim Caorthainn/Drumkeeran". [[Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
3. O'Grady, Donal. (6 November 2022). "Andy Redican's memories of being a local correspondent for over 50 years". [[Leitrim Observer]].
4. "Drumkeerin GAA Club".
5. "Timetable Route 462".
6. "Timetable Route 469".
7. (1987). "John McKenna: Leitrim's Master of the Concert Flute". Musical Traditions No 7.
8. (23 April 2020). "Obituaries: Mary McPartlan obituary: 'One of the greatest traditional singers of her generation'". Irish Times.
9. O'Grady, Donal. (1 February 2024). "Leitrim poet and broadcaster Vincent Woods to feature on RTÉ Lyric fm's 'Where Life Sounds Greener'".